State Your Case: Why Dolphins' Bill Stanfill Was More Than a 'No Name'

By John Turney 

When the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame's screening committee last week released its list of 60 seniors for the Class of 2025, there were a few surprises, including former Miami defensive end Bill Stanfill. But the screeners got this one right.

Because Bill Stanfill should not have been a surprise.

In his prime, he was the best player on one of the NFL's best defenses. A five-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion, Stanfill deserves to be among the seniors' candidates for the Hall's next enshrinement --partly because he was so accomplished and partly because the Miami defense of the 1970s was, too.

In an era when great defenses earned nicknames -- with Steel Curtain, Doomsday, Purple People Eaters, Fearsome Foursome among the most famous -- there was one that perfectly characterized a bunch of unknowns: The Dolphins' "No Name " defense. There were no Mean Joe Greenes, Carl Ellers, Deacon Joneses; just a group of accomplished players who bordered on the anonymous.

Yet it was one of the league's best. During Don Shula's first five years in Miami, only one team allowed fewer points per game (the Minnesota Vikings) and only four allowed fewer yards.

But, to this day, one only player -- linebacker Nick Buoniconti -- is in the Pro Hall of Fame. He's the "Name" of the No-Names, so to speak. No one else made it past the Hall's preliminary phase for consideration, and that should change -- not because most of the other defenses have multiple players with Gold Jackets; but because, at his peak, Bill Stanfill was the best member of that defense.

Even so, most fans today couldn't name many of those players, including Stanfill. But they're not alone. Still overlooking the "No-Names" are Hall-of-Fame voters. At one time, they valued longevity in careers, and that penalized Stanfill and teammate Dick Anderson (also on the list of 60 seniors) when they were modern-era candidates. Injuries forced Stanfill to retire after eight seasons, which wasn't long enough to attract the attention of voters a generation ago.

But he should attract it now. Why? Let's get started:

-- For openers, he was a five-time Pro Bowler, and was first-team All-Pro in 1972 (AP) and 1973 (PFWA and NEA). Plus, former Hall-of-Fame voter Paul Zimmerman, then writing for the New York Post, named him to his personal All-Pro team in 1974, noting his pass-rush ability and success at stuffing running plays.

-- He was All-AFC every year from 1971 through 1974.

-- The 6-foot-5, 252-pounder was the Dolphins' pass rush.  Consider that in 1969 the Dolphins had 25 sacks, with Stanfill producing eight of them, or 32.1 percent of the team's total. One year later, the Dolphins' pass rush was anemic, recording just 18 sacks. Except Stanfill did his job by bagging six (33.3 percent) of them. In 1971, he had 19.1 percent of the Dolphins' 34 sacks.

-- The year the Dolphins had the NFL's No. 1 defense, they sacked the quarterback 33 times, and Stanfill's share was 30.3 percent (ten individual sacks). In 1973, the Dolphins had 45 sacks, with Stanfill producing a career-high 18-1/2 (41.1 percent). According to Pro Football Reference, no one in the league had more. Stanfill had similar production the next season, totaling 10 of the club's 31 sacks -- 32.2 percent.  That's five of six years with over 30 percent of the "No Name" sacks. 

-- From 1969-74, Stanfill had 59 sacks. For those six years, only four players had more, and three are in the Hall -- Elvin Bethea, Claude Humphrey and Carl Eller. 

-- In his prime, he was responsible for almost one-third of the club's sacks and who knows how many hurries.

But that's what the Dolphins envisioned when they chose Stanfill with the 11th overall pick in the 1969 AFL-NFL draft. At the University of Georgia, he'd been a star, (All-American, Academic All-American, Outland Trophy winner, three-time All-SEC and SEC Lineman of the Year) on a team that won or tied for the conference championship twice. 

He'd been a defensive tackle in college, but the Dolphins wanted to move him to defensive end ... and it was a wise decision.  As a rookie, Stanfill not only produced eight sacks; he intercepted two passes and returned both for touchdowns. He was also named to his first Pro Bowl, chosen as much for his versatility as his intensity.

In defensive coach Bill Arsnparger's famed "53 defense," Stanfill spent considerable time at his collegiate position because the unit's namesake, linebacker Bob Matheson (No. 53), would rush from Stanfill's side of the line much of the time.

Arguably the highlight of Stanfill’s career occurred in 1972 when the Dolphins achieved the only perfect season in NFL history (17-0). In addition to his 10 regular-season sacks that season, he had 3-1/2 more in the playoffs as the Miam defense led the league in points allowed (171) and yards allowed (3,680).

While the next year was challenge, with Stanfill playing the first part of the season 10 pounds underweight because of a viral illness, he had a career year -- recording nearly 20 sacks (including the playoffs). The following season he was the AP Defensive Player of the Week in Week 5 when he sacked Jets' quarterbacks five times. 

The year ended with a 24-7 win over Minnesota in Super Bowl VIII, making the "No-Names" back-to-back champions and the Dolphins one of the best teams of all time.

In 1974, Stanfill had another five-sack game, this time against Buffalo, but that would be his last season as a star. Neck injuries affected him so seriously his last two years that he twice was sent to a hospital and forced to retire after the 1976 season.

However, that would not be the last we heard of Bill Stanfill. After the Dolphins tried to renege on the last two years of his contract, alleging that Stanfill had been deemed healthy by their team physicial, he filed a grievance with the NFLPA. He won the case and collected the money he was owed. 

"I wanted to play," he said then, "but when my doctors (some from the Mayo Clinic) are talking about the possibility of death or paralysis, it makes you stop and think."

Which is what the Hall's voters should do with Stanfill's candidacy -- stop and think. When they do, they will see someone who gave everything to a game ... and a team ... he loved. Stanfill had to use a walker before turning 45 because of multiple complications from injuries his last two seasons, and he passed away at the age of 69.

Stanfill was named to the All-Time Miami Dolphins' team in 2007 and is part of the team's Honor Roll. He's also in the University Georgia Hall of Fame and was voted to the College Football Hall of Fame. Perhaps it's time for the Pro Football Hall of Fame to hear his case because its screening committee just did.

And it thought he's worthy of Canton. 

Packers Overcome Third Downers to Beat Rams

By Eric Goska

Jordan Love's 12-yard run was Green Bay's only
third-down conversion against the Rams Sunday.
(photos by Eric Goska)

Attaining a high score in certain arcade games can extend play.

Achieving success on third down in football can extend drives.

The Packers were no pinball wizards on third down Sunday at SoFi Stadium. In notching a 24-19 victory over Los Angeles, Green Bay had to overcome its lack of production on third-down before the clock signaled game over.

While third-down conversion rates might not correlate with winning as closely as other statistics do (average yards per pass play or turnover differential), teams with higher conversion rates tend to fare better than teams on the lower end of the spectrum. The two winningest teams during the regular-season from 2019 through 2023 – the Chiefs at 63-20 and the Bills at 58-24 – also boasted the highest third-down conversion rates – 48.1 and 46.3 percent, respectively.

Matt LaFleur’s Packers ranked seventh at 43.1 percent over that five-year span. The team’s record of 56-27 is tied with Baltimore for third-best during that stretch.

So when LaFleur’s team lays an egg on third down as they did against the Rams – converting just one of eight – that’s cause for concern. More often than not, a rate that low leads to defeat.

Green Bay has converted one or fewer third downs in a regular-season game 47 times since 1954. Its record in those games is 11-36.

Some of the worst outings in Packers history can be found among the losses. 

• Green Bay (0-10 on third down) was throttled 26-14 by the Lions on Thanksgiving Day 1962.
  
• Green Bay (1-10) was thrashed 61-7 by the Bears in December 1980.
• Green Bay (0-8) was hammered 31-10 at Denver as the Packers mustered just 35 offensive plays in October 1999.

Nothing that extreme awaited the Green and Gold in California. That they scored three touchdowns on drives devoid of third downs helped immensely.

During those three advances – one in the first quarter and two in the third – Green Bay piled up 220 of its 323 yards while earning 10 of its 19 first downs. A windfall of 119 yards came on two receptions alone – a 53-yarder by Jayden Reed in the first quarter and a 66-yarder by Tucker Kraft in the third that put the Packers up 17-13.

That prosperity made Green Bay’s struggles on third down less obvious. But labor they did. Jordan Love completed three of six passes for six yards. He was sacked once for a loss of eight. And he threw a pick-six – to Rams safety Jaylen McCollough – while attempting to avoid a safety in the end zone late in the second quarter.

That’s seven pass plays for a net of minus-2 yards. Green Bay has finished in the red just four times in the passing game in the regular season on third down under LaFleur, regardless of how often they converted. The team is 2-2 in those games.

The Packers’ sole third-down conversion occurred in the fourth quarter. Love scrambled for 12 to secure a fresh set of downs at the Green Bay 42. His dash helped sustain a 14-play, 43-yard, clock-eating advance that consumed eight minutes, 13 seconds, leaving the Rams with not enough time (6:02) in which to erase an 11-point deficit (13-24).

Aversion to Conversion
Since 1954, the five regular-season victories in which the Packers converted no more than one-third down and gained zero or fewer passing yards on that down.

Date                       3D             3D Pass          Opponent          Result
Dec. 15, 1985         1-10                 -20                 Lions                      GB won, 26-23
Dec. 5, 1965            0-9                  -13                 Vikings                  GB won, 24-19
Oct. 6, 2024            1-8                   -2                  Rams                     GB won, 24-19
Oct. 8, 1978            0-12                  -1                  Bears                     GB won, 24-14
Oct. 4, 1970            1-13                   0                  Vikings                  GB won, 13-10

A Century Apart: Xavier McKinney and Ojay Larson

 By Eric Goska

Xavier McKinney (29) during training camp in August.
(photo by Eric Goska)

Xavier McKinney has intercepted a pass in each of Green Bay’s four games this season.

That is impressive to be sure, but not without precedent. Over the years, 10 other Packers stole at least one pass in four or more consecutive contests.

The question then: whose record is McKinney chasing?

McKinney, whom the Packers signed during the first few days of free agency in March, has exceeded expectations. No fewer than four quarterbacks can vouch for that.

McKinney picked off the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts in the first quarter in Brazil. Nine days later, he snagged a pass from the Colts’ Anthony Richardson in the same period in Green Bay’s home opener.

Demonstrating he can strike at any time, McKinney poached Will Levis of the Titans in the fourth quarter and Sam Darnold of the Vikings in the third.

All but the first interception occurred within 20 yards of the Packers’ end zone.

In pilfering the pigskin, McKinney became the first player in team history to intercept a pass in each of his first four games with the team. He went one further than linebacker John Anderson who had one or more in each of his first three games as a rookie in 1978.

But McKinney is not the first to come away with one in four straight games. He shares that honor with Charlie Mathys (1923), Johnny Blood (1929), Don Hutson (1942), Bobby Dillon (1957), John Symank (twice in 1957 and once in 1961) and Nick Collins (2009).

Three players – Eddie Kotal (1928), Lavvie Dilweg (1928-29) and Irv Comp (1943) had streaks of five. And one player, the all-but-forgotten Ojay Larson, waylaid at least one pass six games running.

The Packers say Comp is the record holder. His run of five straight helped him to a club record 10 picks as a rookie.

That said, the team either does not recognize or is unaware of the exploits of those men who toiled during the game’s early years. But we here at Pro Football Journal believe all players, regardless of when they played, should be recognized for their exploits. And Larson, a center who played 13 games for Green Bay during his only season with the team (1925) belongs at the top of the heap.

Colorized photo courtesy of John Maxymuk
and Packers Past Perfect

Larson, who played collegiately at Notre Dame, was a Bear (1922) and a Milwaukee Badger (1923-24) before signing with the Packers. The Green Bay Press-Gazette had this to say about him shortly after he autographed his contract.

“The new Packer has always been considered a great center. He was not pleased with his berth on the Milwaukee club and jumped at the chance to get a ‘change of pasture.’”

Larson swiped his first pass for Green Bay in Week 4 against his old team, the Badgers. The 6-foot-1, 199-pounder redirected Shorty Barr’s third throw of the game. Five plays later, Curly Lambeau connected with Marty Norton from 28 yards out as the Packers recorded their first touchdown in a 31-0 rout of their southern neighbor.

A week later, Larson did the same to Roddy Lamb. The turnover sparked a 6-play, 25-yard drive capped by Myrt Basing’s 1-yard plunge – the first of his two rushing touchdowns – as Green Bay blanked Rock Island 20-0.

Over the next four weeks, Larson gave the Jeffersons, Badgers, Cardinals and Triangles the same treatment. He doubled-dipped against Rochester.

Green Bay went 5-1 during Larson’s 6-game spree. The team’s only loss occurred in Chicago where Paddy Driscoll booted a 27-yard field goal with less than a minute left to lift the Cardinals to a 9-6 victory.

Larson’s run ended after the Packers handed Dayton a 7-0 loss. Green Bay (7-2) then dropped three of its last four to finish 8-5 winding up ninth among the 20 teams in the league that year.

In the penultimate game of the season, Larson injured his knee. As a result, his string of 12 straight starts ended a week later in Providence where he played only sparingly against the Steam Roller in the finale.

In August 1926, the Press-Gazette speculated that: “… it is not probable that Ojay Larson, the Packers’ 1925 center, will play any football on account of an injured knee that gave him considerable trouble last fall.”

Larson did return in 1929 where he played 17 games with both the Bears and Cardinals before hanging up his cleats for good. He died in May 1977 at the age of 79.

TUESDAY TIDBITS: "Every Decision That We Made, We Made With Our Hearts"

By TJ Troup 

Hall of Fame Steve Sabol

Tomorrow October 2nd would have been Steve Sabol's 82nd birthday. Happy Birthday, Steve, and hope you are enjoying football heaven where you play fullback, and make films. 

This is a special time of year for me with Senior Softball playoffs, selling my book, and relishing watching the games this season. 

 As always would enjoy hearing opinions from all of you, and as such you need a question so I can get those opinions. 

Which teams looks strong enough to go the distance to earn a spot in the final four? 

Dan Campbell sure has his Lions on the prowl, and with the schedule the next few weeks with so many road games. Can Detroit position themselves to again win the division? Detroit against Minnesota has never been much of a rivalry, yet this year the games are gonna be key. 

During my visits to NFL Films when Steve and I would have coffee, always was asked the same question,"Coach what are you working on"? 

Since I had determined that returning an interception for a touchdown means an 80% chance of victory, and when one team has a 100-yard rusher, and their opponent does not equate to a 77% chance of victory. 

I bet you can surmise where I am going with this—what happens when a team has both. 

Felt that this stat needed a "catchy" nickname, and to this day call it "Apocalyptic Horsemen". This past Sunday in San Francisco Fred Warner returned an interception for a touchdown, and Jordan Mason gained over 100 yards in the Niner victory. 

Fred Warner and Jordan Mason

San Francisco has won 18 of the 21 times they have accomplished this feat (85.7%), and the league average historically is 91%. 

In the last four years the 49ers have achieved the Apocalyptic Horsemen stat! Only four other teams have accomplished this stat at least four years in a row. Buffalo with six consecutive seasons holds the record. One of my projects years ago was compiling a list of long runs from scrimmage of at least 50 yards and called it "Elusive". 

Derrick Henry

Derrick Henry with his long touchdown run against Buffalo now is tied with Jim Brown with 15!